Libya descends into chaos three years after US strikes

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Two years ago four Americans, including U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed during a terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. Since then the North African country has slipped into chaos with no working government prompting the U.S. government to evacuate its remaining embassy.

Renewed violence by terrorist organizations has unleashed anarchy, destroyed many government buildings, including the capital’s airport. Multiple reports also claim that 11 commercial planes have disappeared sparking new fears of another 9/11 -style attack.

State Department spokesperson Mary Harf said, “the ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, and we have temporarily relocated all of our personnel out of Libya.” (New video shows militants diving and swimming at the U.S. compound)

Now a new report from the United Nations says the turmoil has forced more than 250, 000 Libyans from their homes in the country’s two biggest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi. It also says the militias have abducted members of rival groups as well as civilians, engaged in torture, and brutally killed thousands more.

President Obama order airstrikes in Libya in March 2011 amid regional uprisings or “The Arab Spring.” He deployed U.S. military resources to facilitate regime change and depose long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Failed state?

The conflicts in both Libyan cities have led to a deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation. In Tripoli, there have been power outages lasting 18 hours a day, and shortages of water, petrol, cooking gas, as well as other essential items like milk, bread and meat.

The lack of fuel delivery has critically affected other essential services. “Banking facilities are still limited and common criminality has risen markedly. A Crisis Committee was formed under the Prime Minister’s Office in order to address the humanitarian situation, but due to the divisive political situation, parallel bodies were formed in some areas, under local councils or at the initiative of civil society,” according to a United Nation’s report.